Choreographing Connection
Choreographing Connection is Lynn Panting’s professional practice blog, offering reflections on her artistic work and the arts sector at large. Through her lens as a director, choreographer, and intimacy professional, she shares think pieces, resources, strategies, and insights that speak to the evolving landscape of the performing arts.
Hamlet Doesn’t Need to Be Sad — Hamlet Needs to Look Sad: Supporting Sustainable Practices in the Performing Arts
There’s a misconception in the performing arts that to create powerful, moving work, you have to suffer for it. That emotional exhaustion is part of the job. That giving your all means giving everything. But that’s not artistry… that’s burnout. And it’s not sustainable.
Tools for Expressing Discomfort in Rehearsal or Performance
In any rehearsal or performance involving intimacy, physicality, or emotional vulnerability, it’s important to have clear and accessible ways to express discomfort.
Creating Connection: The Special Handshake for Intimacy Scene Partners
By creating a unique ritual, intimacy scene partners can foster a deeper bond, navigate the emotional demands of their work with greater ease, and bring authenticity to the relationships they portray on stage.
The Importance of Tapping In and Tapping Out: A Boundary Practice for Rehearsals and Performances
Tapping in and tapping out is more than a ritual, it’s a transformative practice that empowers performers to navigate the emotional and physical demands of their work with clarity and care. By fostering boundaries, consent, and trust, it creates a foundation for artistry that is both bold and sustainable.
The Let Go Menu: A Toolkit for Artists in Overdrive
I’ve learned that one of the hardest things for artists to do isn’t creating—it’s letting go.
Letting go of anxiety. Letting go of the fear that we’re not doing enough. Letting go of the pressure to fix, control, or prove something.
Building Trust in the Rehearsal Room Through Movement
A rehearsal space where movement and physical awareness are prioritized is one where trust naturally flourishes. By tuning into our own bodies, connecting with our ensemble, establishing clear boundaries, and embracing movement as a tool for communication, we create a working environment that is both safe and artistically rich.
Intimacy Direction for Non-Romantic Stories
Platonic and familial relationships are central to many narratives, and the physical connections between these characters can be just as complex and powerful.
Director’s Diary: Love’s Labour’s Lost
This is just the beginning of my directorial journey with Love’s Labour’s Lost. Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing my process, from research and rehearsals to the final performances. I’m excited to document the discoveries, challenges, and triumphs along the way.
Why I Hate Hate Theatre Warm-Up Games
If you adore a good game of Zip Zap Zop or thrive on the chaos of Big Booty, I see you. I respect you. I even admire your unhinged enthusiasm. But, with love, the anxiety, it’s not for me.
7 Tailored Warm-Ups for Meaningful Rehearsals
These exercises foster connection, creativity, and intention, ensuring that every moment of rehearsal is meaningful and aligned with your production’s unique needs.
It’s Not Magic, It’s Movement: How Mirror Neurons Connect Audiences to Performance
Our brains are wired to connect with movement in a way that feels almost magical. But the truth is, it’s not magic; it’s movement.
Building the Ensemble: A New Approach to Connection in Performance
For me, the magic of a production is often found in the relationships onstage, the shared rhythms, the collective breath that turns a group of individuals into a world in itself.
Why Consent Culture Benefits Every Rehearsal Room
Integrating consent-based practices doesn’t just prevent harm—it enhances artistry, deepens collaboration, and fosters a healthier, more sustainable creative environment.
Choreographing Chemistry: Building Connection on Stage
Choreographing chemistry is about creating an environment where performers feel safe, connected, and empowered to take creative risks. By combining exercises, thoughtful movement direction, and a focus on ensemble alignment, you can help performers forge authentic connections that resonate with audiences.
Establishing Boundaries in Creative Spaces
Clear, well-communicated boundaries create an environment where artists feel empowered to take creative risks, knowing their limits and voices are respected.
Movement as an Emotional Catalyst
In performance, movement acts as an emotional catalyst, bridging the gap between the performer and the audience. It communicates what dialogue cannot, often leaving a deeper, more visceral impact.
How Movement Shapes Storytelling
Movement is more than an accessory to storytelling, it is its own language, capable of conveying what words cannot.
Movement and Intimacy Direction
With a commitment to inclusivity, safety, and innovation, my work empowers artists to explore their craft with confidence and authenticity.